Summary
Taylor Sheridan’s next TV show could be his long sought-after replacement forYellowstone, and it looks like it will offer a great twist on Kevin Costner’s John Dutton.Yellowstoneseason 5 part 2will be the final chapter of Sheridan’s most popular TV show, and many have wondered if he could replicate its popularity again. ReplacingYellowstoneis no easy feat, though, especially given the dynasty ofYellowstonespinoff seriesits inspired, andthe “Sheridanverse” of television showsthat grew from it. While there are already severalupcoming Taylor Sheridan shows and moviesin the works, his next might be the best.
Landman, Taylor Sheridan’s next TV show, seems like its poised to become one of his best.Landmanis already continuing one of Sheridan’s best trendswith its star-studded cast of Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Hamm, and Demi Moore, among others. It’s also set to air just one week afterYellowstoneseason 5, part 2 begins, which should help it gain some ofYellowstone’s dedicated viewers. One ofLandman’s most promising aspects, however, puts a very interesting twist on a classic Taylor Sheridan character inYellowstone: Kevin Costner’s John Dutton.
Why Kevin Costner Left Yellowstone
For anyone wondering why it took Kevin Costner so long to address the Yellowstone rumors, Screen Rant has the scoop.
Billy Bob Thornton’s Landman Character Has 1 Key Difference To Kevin Costner’s John Dutton In Yellowstone
Billy Bob Thornton has been cast in the lead role ofLandman, Sheridan’s upcoming series. Thornton is set to play Tommy Norris, a crisis manager for an oil company who is sent to “fix” any problems that come up. Thornton described Norris in an interview withVanity Fair, and he already sounds very similar to John Dutton. They’re both men who have to deal with all the different problems that come from running a business, whether it be lawyers, policymakers, or employees.
“I’m a fixer and a foreman. Even though I work with the head guy, I also work very closely with the people out in the field. I check the wells every day, get the information to give him, I deal with the landowners, and if something happens on that land, if there’s an accident on the rig, I’ve got to solve that problem and go deal with the lawyers.”
During that interview, Thornton also revealed that there’s one major difference between his character and Kevin Costner’s: Norris isn’t rich.Both Norris and Dutton have incredible work ethics, a desire to see their businesses succeed, and the ability to fix whatever problem comes up, but Norris doesn’t see the spoils of his efforts. Thornton mentioned that Taylor Sheridan highlighted a key part of his character: when Norris reports to his boss' lavish home, he thinks “I could have had this — but it went a different direction.” That key change from John Dutton’s characterization already makesLandmandifferent fromYellowstone, and most of Sheridan’s other shows as well.
Most Taylor Sheridan Protagonists Have Signature Traits In Common
All 7 Taylor Sheridan TV Shows, Ranked Worst To Best
Taylor Sheridan has been a great asset for Paramount, developing several original shows from Yellowstone to the new Law Men: Bass Reeves.
It should be noted that not all of Sheridan’s protagonists are powerful or wealthy individuals.Wind River, for example, focused on a junior FBI agent and a Fish and Wildlife officer, andHell or High Water’s Howard brothers were living under the shadow of extreme debt before their bank robberies. Though they didn’t fit with Sheridan’s penchant for writing powerful protagonists, they did still have the same values and attributes of many of his main characters.Landman’s Tommy Norris seems similar to them: he’s hardworking, effective, smart, and capable, but he doesn’t have nearly as much to show for it.
How Landman’s Story Mirrors The Premise Of Yellowstone
Tommy Norris and John Dutton aren’t the only similaritiesLandmanandYellowstonehave in common.Landman’s premise already seems quite similar toYellowstone’s, at least in the early seasons. They both focus on their respective main characters protecting a massive business and all the problems that come with that task. John had to deal with external threats from Thomas Rainwater, the Beck Brothers, and more, along with internal threats like Jamie Dutton. Norris will likely have the same variety of issues to deal with: external threats from lawyers and environmentalists, among others, and internal problems from accidents and the executives of his company.
Landman seems like it will give Thornton’s Tommy Norris the same anxiety-inducing amount of problems to deal with simultaneously, which could make for very suspenseful television.
It also seems thatLandmanwill mirror one of the most compelling parts ofYellowstone.A big reasonYellowstoneis so engaging is because the Duttons had to constantly juggle so many different problems at the same time, which raised the stakes considerably. Any one of the issues plaguing the ranch would have been enough to end the Dutton dynasty, but facing them all at once was overwhelming, and it made audiences wonder how everything could work out in their favor.Landmanseems like it will give Thornton’s Tommy Norris the same anxiety-inducing amount of problems to deal with simultaneously, which could make for very suspenseful television.
Landman
Cast
Set in West Texas, this series explores the world of oil rigs and the fortunes they create. It portrays a modern upstairs/downstairs narrative of roughnecks and billionaires, highlighting the profound impact on the climate, economy, and geopolitics in these boomtowns.
Another similarityLandmanshares withYellowstoneis perhaps the most important reason it could replace Sheridan’s flagship series.Yellowstonehas a unique ability to create new projects and spinoffs. It’s been key in makingYellowstoneso successful for Sheridan, andLandmanmay be the only project that’s able to do it again.Landmanhas so much potential to inspire new stories: Tommy Norris will have to balance so many competing interests, from the law to profit margins, and any one of them could be the basis for a spinoff. It isn’t hard to imagineLandmanone day having as many spinoffs asYellowstonecurrently does.
Yellowstone
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on June 21, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
